Telegraph-key.



1. J. MASON.

TELEGRAPH KEY. APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, I917.

3,302,401.. Patented Apr. 29,1919.

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(722/2749 Jfidsaxa wwn foz JAMES J. MASON, 0F CISCO, CALIFORNIA.

TELEGRAPH-KEY.

Specificationoi Letters latent.

Patented Apr. 29, 191%.

Application filed May 23, 191'7. Serial No. 170,398.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES J. MASON,'3 citizen of the United States, and resident of Cisco, in the county of Placer and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telegraph-Keys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to telegraphy and has more especial reference to an improved key for transmitting intelligence.

The invention has for its dominant object to provide a telegraph key, the inherent resiliency of which will allow the same to be advantageously used for sending messages in a rapid and disti ct manner without strain upon part of the operator.

Another object of the invention is to 'provide an anti-friction bearing for the key, whereby friction will be eliminated to the greatest possible extent and as a consequence, easy operation of the key insured.

Among other aims and objects of the invention may be recited, the provision'of a key of the character mentioned with a view to compactness, and in which the number of.

the invention is shown for the purpose of illustration.

In the drawings: t

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved key;

Fig. 2 is a detail in perspective of the lever thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentar detail in section show ng one of the antlnotional bearings for-the lever. Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views to indicate corresponding parts.

I Referring more specifically to the drawings, 1 designates the base of the key in which oppositely disposed dove-tailed grooves are formed and are adapted to receive stands 2 havlng thelr lower ends formed complementally to the said dove-tailed grooves. Set

ment is of the legless type and has arranged upon the base 1 a binding post 6 whereby one side of the intelligence transmitting circuit may be engaged therewith. A shut off switch 7 being pivotally engaged with the binding post 28, hereinafter described and is adapted to contact with the terminal 8 arranged upon the forward portion of the base and insulated therefrom, movement of said shut off being facilitated through the medium of an insulated handle 9.

A lever 10 is provided and has the opposite ends thereof provided with spaced spring arms 11 and 12, the latter. which are formed upon the forward portion of the lever, having a solid offset piece 13 formed upon their outer. ends whereby a finger button 14 formed of soft rubber and provided with a screw threaded shank can be engaged therewith. Transversely disposed bearing pintles 15 having tapered ends 16 are formed intermediate the lever lOand as heretofore stated are received upon the bearings 5 contained in the cup 1. V

To permit the tension of the lever 10 to be regulated, openings 17 are formed in the upper spring arms 11 and 12 while screw threaded openings 18 are formed in the lower spring arms 11 and 12 in directalinement with the openings 17 and, obviously, permit the passage of set screws 19 and 20 therethrough. As will be noted, the screw threaded shank of the set screw 19 is of a greater length than the shank of the set screw 20, thereby permitting the same to serve as an adjusting screw whereby the vibratory movement of the lever 10 may be regulated accordingly. A locking nut 21 being turned thereon and having bearing upon the uppermost spring arm 11 whereby the tension thereof may be adjusted. The

screw threaded shank of the set screw 20 is.

provided with a bearing pin 22 which pin receives thereabout the uppermost convolution of a coil spring 23 seated upon the base 1, while a locking nut 24:, similar to the lock the transversely disposed bearing portion of the lever 10 and receives therein a set screw 26, this set screw serving as a contact terminal for the remaining side of the intelligence transmitting circuit and supplying energy to the contact 25 by way of theconductor 27 thereby allowing the intermittent making and breaking of the same in order that the usual dots anddashes may be transmitted thereby.

A second binding post 28 is arranged upon and insulated from the base and is connected with the contact 8 by means of an insulated 1igvire not shown, arranged beneath the. said ase.

In operation, upon depression of the finger button 14, the intelligence transmitting circuit will be closed due to the contact of the points 8 and 25. Upon the release of pressure the lever will be automatically returned to its normal or inoperative position by means of the coil spring 23, the tension of which is adjusted by varying the positioning of the set screw 20 with relation thereto. Obviously, the duration of contact between the points 8 and 25 is varied in order that the usual dots and dashes composing the telegraphic code may be transmitted thereby.

To remove the slidable stands 2 in orderthat the bearings 5 may be cleaned or oiled, it is only necessary to loosen the set screws 3 whereupon the said stands may be readily moved out of engagement with the tapered ends of the bearing pintles 15. To vary the tension of the spring arms 11 and 12 formed upon the lever 10, the looking or adjusting nuts 21 and 24 are turned downwardly upon the shanks of the set screws 19 and 20 accordingly.

able the operator to rapidly and distinctly transmit messages by means of the instrument, the same being capable of being rolled in a manner similar'to a drum, while due to the provision of the spring arm 11, the contact jar or shock to the operators hand will be obviated, thereby lessening the liability of what is termed operators pa ralysis. Further, by the provision of the soft rubber finger button 14 additional resil iency will be embodied by the key.

Obviously, the construction shown is capabio of considerable modification, the key being readily adaptable for use upon the ordinary leg type, and therefore such modification .as is within the scope of my claims, I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A telegraph key having one end of the lever thereof split longitudinally and between the upper and lower sides thereof, and bearings formed on the intermediate portions of the lever.

2. A telegraph key including a lever having superposed spring arms formed upon its ends and bearings formed upon the intermediate portion of the lever.

3. A telegraph key including a lever having superposed spaced spring arms formed on the ends thereof, and searing pintles carried upon the intermediate portions of the lever.

1. A telegraph key including a lever having bearing pintles formed upon the intermediate portion thereof, anti-frictional bearings for said pintles, the opposite end of the lever being split and having the divided portions thereof arranged in superposed relationship, and means engaged with said split ends for. adjusting the tension of the same.

5. A telegraph key including a lever having superposed spaced spring arms formed on the ends thereof, means for adjusting the tension of said arms, bearing pintles formed intermediate the ends of the lever, and antifrictional bearingmeans for supporting said pintles.

' 6. A telegraph key including a lever having superposed spaced spring arms on the ends thereof, means for adjusting the tension of said arms, slidable stands arranged upon the key base, and anti-frictional bearing means carried by said stands for receiving the pintles.

7. A telegraph key including'a lever having superposed spaced spring arms on the Ill ends thereof. and a resilient finger button base, anti-frictional means carried by said secured to certain of said ends. stands for receiving the pintles, and a re- 10 8. A telegraph key including a lever hav silient finger button secured to certain of the ing superposed spaced spring arms on the ends of the lever.

ends thereof, means engaged With said arms In testimony whereof, I affix my signature for adjusting the tension of the same, bearhereto.

ing pintles formed intermediate the ends of the lever, slidable stands formed on the key JAMES J. MASON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 

